Complete Guide to Hamburg Chickens – Treats For Chickens

Hi Treats for Chickens community, it's me, Dawn!

Welcome to Treats for Chickens' Complete Guide Series. Because as a fellow chicken parent, I cannot help but learn more about different chicken breeds- that I could include in my lovable flock. So, here I am sharing a few chicken facts on the Hamburg.

The Hamburg chicken is the supermodel of chickens. There's a reason why Hamburgs are a very popular poultry show breed. These birds are a graceful, delicate, small breed of chicken with slender grayish blue legs. Just make sure you have some sturdy, tall fences if you are going to add some Hamburgs to your flock because these birds are good at flying and will at every chance you give them.

Thank the good people of Holland that were alive before the 1400s for Hamburg chickens existing today, because that is when and where they were developed.  Experts are certain it all began with the Golden Penciled Hamburg and Silver Penciled Hamburg.

It is believed the first chicken show was a contest in the 1800s to settle an argument some English chaps were having in a local pub - the argument? Whose rooster was the most magnificent. The bartender in the pub was the judge, the prize was just a copper pot, and the roosters that were competing were Hamburg chickens. Surprise, surprise, Hamburgs were the world's first show chickens! 

Hamburgs come in a ton of very cool color varieties including Black, White, Silver Spangled, Gold Spangled, Citron Spangled, Blue, Blue Spangled, Gold Penciled, Citron Penciled and Silver Penciled. American Poultry Association recognize only six standard varieties of Hamburg chickens. Treat yourself with the full range of colors by searching "Hamburgs color varieties" on Google image. 

Not only are Hamburgs attractive show chickens, but they begin laying eggs around 30 weeks old and are pretty good producers too. You can expect your Hamburg hen to lay 150-200 or more eggs annually. But if your Hamburg is missing that essential calcium, I recommend Treats for Chickens' Oyster Shell or Limestone Grit. Hamburg eggs are typically small, longish, white eggs with pointy ends. Hamburg hens typically aren’t the broody type, so you’ll probably need an incubator or recruit one of your other broody hens to step up as a foster mom. For more information on Hamburg and their eggs, 5 Best White Egg Laying Chicken Breeds.

Hamburg Heat & Cold Tolerance

Heat: Tolerates heat well

Cold: Hardy in winter

Hamburg Chicken Size

Regular Hamburgs
Rooster: 4 lbs - 5 lbs
Hen: 4 lbs
Cockerel: 4 lbs
Pullet: 4 lbs

Bantam Hamburgs
Rooster: 1.5 lbs - 2 lbs
Hen: 1.25 lbs - 1.75 lbs

Okay, there you have it, chicken keepers. Let me know fellow Treats for Chickens parents, what other breed should we explore. Comment below or email us!